Tape applicator



C. W. VOGT TAPE APPLICATOR Nov. 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1952 0; INVENTOR. GZA/PE/VCE W VoQT BY A15 A TTO/FNEYS.

Nov. 1, 1955 Filed July 7, 1952 0. w. VOGT 2,722,331

TAPE APPLICATOR 3 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. C4 ARENCE' M4 V067 K33 BY ww w 1/6 HTTORNEYS 1955 c. w. VOGT 2,722,331

TAPE APPLICATOR Filed July 7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTOR. CLARENCE W 1 007 BY 4 IS A TTORNEKS United States Patent O TAPE APPLICATOR Clarence W. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn. Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,459

3 Claims. (Cl. 21633) The present invention relates to devices for dispensing tape and, more particularly, to dispensers for adhesive tapes.

Adhesive tapes of the pressure-sensitive, heat-sensitive and similar types are well known as are various forms of mechanisms by means of which these tapes may be withdrawn from rolls and applied to the desired surfaces or objects. These existing forms of dispensers have either required two hands to dispense the tape, or, if the dispensing involves a one-hand operation, the mechanism thereof has generally been of involved structure and relatively expensive and, moreover, fails to provide all of the advantages desired in mechanisms of this type.

An object of this invention is to provide a dispensing mechanism for adhesive tapes and the like wherein tape in roll form may be utilized as desired and in a fashion requiring only a single hand to complete the dispensing and applying operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape dispensing mechanism of the above character wherein adequate control may be exerted at all times over the supply of tape in the roll.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein the leading end of the tape may be maintained in a position in which it may be readily applied to desired surfaces or objects without an initial starting operation effected by the second hand of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the above character wherein provi sion is made for the easy severance of the tape after a desired portion thereof has been applied.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein cutting or severance of the tape may be accomplished without marring the surface to which the tape is applied.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tape applying mechanism wherein provision is made to accommodate rolls of the tape of varying sizes as well as rolls of tape having cores of varying size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein the structure is simple and inexpensive and preferably maybe formed from a single stamping or molded plastic.

Other and further advantages of the invention will appear as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of tape applicator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the device of Figure l with a roll of tape inserted therein and ready for application;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in section, taken on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating two alternate ways in which tape may be dispensed from the device;

r 2,722,331 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 Figure 5 is a view in side elevation showing the manner in which tape is applied to a desired surface from the device shown in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the manner in which the tape that has been applied to a desired surface is severed from the supply of tape in the applicator;

Figure 7 is a view in front elevation showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 8 is a view in longitudinal section, taken on the line 88 of Figure 7, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a view, taken on the broken section line 99 of Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the device shown in Figures 7 to 9 with the roll of tape removed therefrom;

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing the cutter blade illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, inclusive;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the manner in which the device of Figures 7 to 11 is used to apply tape to a desired surface;

Figure 13 is a view in longitudinal section showing a modified form of device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 14 is a view in section taken on line 1414 of Figure 13 with the roll of tape removed therefrom;

Figure 15 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure l4;

' Figure 16 is a developed view of the blank from which the device shown in Figures 13 to 15 is formed; and

Figure 17 is a partial view showing a further modified form of the invention.

Referring to the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, there is shown a body member indicated generally at 20 having a front portion or frame member 21 and rear portion 22. The body or frame member is formed with side plates 23 and 24 between which rolls of tape indicated at 25 and 26 are adapted to be received. Dirnples or projections 27 are formed in the side plates 23 and 24 to be received within the hollow portions of the cores 28 of the rolls of tape and thus to retain the rolls between the side plates, as illustrated in Figure 4. The material of the frame or body member may be of molded plastic or similar material having a suflicient degree of flexibility to permit the side plates to be bowed apart to permit the rolls of tapes to pass therebetween and to be received within the nested positions illustrated in Figure 4.

The frame member is preferably open at 29 to permit of access to the tape material from beneath thedevice in order to facilitate threading of the end of the roll of tape into the position illustrated in Figure 4.

The front member 21 is provided with a curved surface 30 forming a pressure plate over which the outer extremity 31 of the tape material lies. Upon opposite sides of the side plates, tabs or cars 32 are formed, these tabs being spaced from the pressure surface 30 sufficiently to permit the tape material to pass therebetween as it is drawn along the curved pressure plate. The tape from the rolls 25 or 26 is thus dispensed and applied to a desired surface 33, such as shown, for example in Figures 5 and 6, by pressing the extremity of the tape thereagainst and drawing the applicator along the surface as indicated by the arrow in Figure 5. This operation will be seen to require only one hand, leaving the other hand of the operator free for any desired use. from the roll by a sharp brake, as illustrated in Figure 4, and as it is drawn over the entering edge of the pressure surface 30, it is subjected to a sharp bend or crease which deforms the tape in such fashion as to cause it to lie generally alongthe curved surface of the pressure plate The tab is pulled 3 after severance of a portion and release of tension, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The section of tape that has thus been applied to the desired surface is then severed from the remaining portion of the roll by means of a serrated cutting edge 34 formed at the top of the curved pressure plate 30. If desired, this cutting edge may be formed out of the material ofthe frame and in order to prevent marring or sending of the surface 33, ears 35 are formed upon opposite ends of the cutting edge 34 and project beyond this cutting edge a distance suflicient to permit the thickness of the'tape to be received therebetween. In this fashion the teeth of the cutting member are not permitted to come into contact with anything but the tape material, and this material is severed as illustrated in Figure 6 by swinging the applicator away from the direction of application of the tape and then pulling the same so that the teeth of the cutting member are applied against the tape to sever it.

The foregoing operation will be seen to be efiectively controlled by a single band, the feed of the tape being regulated by pressure of one or more fingers against the roll in order to force the outer convolution of the roll against a curved braking surface 36 formed on the inner side of the rear body member 22. If the roll of tape is a small one, as indicated at 26, the braking or control thereof is effected by pressing the roll against the upper surfaces of extensions 37 of the rear member 22 and against the rear face 38 of the front member 21, as illustrated by the dot-and-dash line 26 in Figure 4.

The retaining tabs or ears 32 prevent the accidental withdrawal of the extremity 31 of the tape downwardly and, away from the curved pressure plate 30. In view of the fact that such motion will immediately result in the adhesive side of the tape (the outer side, as illustrated at 31 in Figure 4) coming into contact with the under surfaces of the tabs or cars 32, this will cause adhesion of the tape to these tabs as illustrated in Figure 4, in which the tape is ready to be applied to a fresh surface. If it is desired to remove the extremity of tape 31 from the surface, it is only necessary to exert a slight tension outwardly on the tape extremity and then draw it back and along the pressure surface until its end hascleared thetabs or ears 32.

It will be apparent that, if desired, thedevice may be utilized as a conventional form of tape dispenser by drawing the tape over the cutting edge 34, as illustrated at 39 in Figure 4, by means of dot-and-dash lines. Moreover, in order that the cars 32 may not interfere with the application of the tape to a surface, projections 40 are formed on the side plates in such position that a line drawn between the outer tip thereof and tangentto the curved pressure plate 30 will fall outside the ears 32. The projections 40 may serve as feet which cooperatewith rear feet 41 to facilitate standing the device in an upright position, as illustrated in Figure 4. If desired, the portions connecting the tabs 32 to the side plates 23 and 24 may be cut to impart a degree of yielding or flexibility to the tabs. With this condition a snubbing or binding action will occur when the tape adheres to the tabs upon any tendency to accidentally remove the tape from the pressure surface, such motion after adhering the tape to thetabs causing the tabs to be drawn down against the pressure surface. 7

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 to 12, inclusive, the frame member is formedwith side plates 50 and a bottom plate 51 upon which a roll of material 52 is adapted to be. received. The surface 53 of the plate 51 serves as a braking surface in the manner previously described and as illustrated in Figure 12.

The side plates 50 are formed with projections 54 having inwardly extending tabs or flanges 55 which lie normally within the core of the tape and serve to retain the roll in the desired position within the applicator frame.

The forward portion of the frame is provided with '4 a curved pressure surface 56 similar to the surface 30 and tabs 57, similar to tabs 32, are formed out of the material of the side walls.

In order to facilitate the severing of the applied tape from the tape remaining on the applicator, a removable cutting blade 58 is provided (Figure 11), this blade having a serrated cutting edge 59 and having lateral ears 60 which are turned downwardly and rearwardly to form rounded guard projections or cars 61 and rearwardly extending flanges 62 for engaging over suitable projections 63 on the outer extremity of the pressure plate 56. A downwardly extending flange 64 is formed on the cutter blade 58 and is adapted to be snapped over a shoulder 65 formed rearwardly of the pressure plate 56, as illustrated in Figure 8. The cutting edge 59 thus projects slightly beyond the adjacent extremity of the material of the frame on which the pressure plate 56 is formed and serves to. cut the applied tape in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 6. The rounded ears or guard members 61 prevent scufling of the surface on which the tape is applied by the serrated cutting edge 59 in the manner previously described, It is preferred that the cutting edges of the serrated cutting edge 59 be burred upwardly against the direction of the feed of the tape in. order to facilitate the cutting operation, and the manner in which the applicator and roll are held during the operation of applying the, tape to a surface is illustrated in Figure 12. The flexibility of the projections 54 or the side walls sflpermit the flanges 55 to be bowed outwardly, as illustrated in Figure 9., in orderthat a new roll may. be inserted. The cutting member 58 is, of course, replaceable when and as desired simply by snapping it away from its operating position illustrated in Figure 8, and snapping on a new blade. In, the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 13 to 16, a tapeapplicator is shown as f IIned Out of a blank indicated generally at in Figure; 16. The blank includes side walls. or plates 71 and 72, a rear-wall 73, a bottom plate 74, and a front wall 75. Flanges 76 and 77 formed on the respective side walls 71. and bottom walls 74 permit theblank to be assembled in operative position by upsetting the flanges,

as illustrated in Figure 14., Bends 78 permit a lateral foot 79.to.be formed upon the side of the frame opposite the conneetion, 80 formed by the flanges 76 and 77. The exposed edges of the blank are preferably headed over, as indicated, typically at 81, in order to avoid cutting the hand or scuffing the edges or surface of the tape, and dimplesorinwardly projecting elements 82 are formed in the side plates 71' and 72 in order to retain rolls. of tape within the frame member in the manner hereinabovedescribed in connectionwith the forms of the inventionjllustrated in Figures 1 to12.

In assembled position, flanges 83 and 84 on the side wall 71,a nd front wall 75,, Ifispectivcly, areupset as indicated at 85, and; an extension 86. (projecting. from the lower; extremity of-the front wall 75) is bowed or curved upwardly to form. a curved pressure plate 87, as illus' trated in Figure13. Tabs 88 are formed out of the material,of the blank; in; the region of the lower extremity of the pressure plate87, and for the purposes hereinabove described in connection with tabs 32 and 57.

Theputer-extremity 89.01? the extension 86.is rearwardly bent (as illustrate in Figure l3) and is received beneath the outer extremity 90;o f,an extension 91 formed in the upper end of the front wall 75. Closely spaced bends 92 between' the-portions. 90 and 91 provide an offset The inner sides 96 of the cars 94 slope outwardly and are formed as cutting edges so that either or both of the edges of the tape are severed preferably initially in the cutting operation. At the same time, the ears 94, after they are upset or bent about the tabs 93, serve as guards for spacing the cutting edge 95 from the surface upon which the tape is being applied as hereinabove described in connection with the structure shown in Figures 1 to 12.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 13 to 16, there is provided an inexpensive and effective mechanism for applying tape to a desired surface in the manner hereinabove described, this form of the invention having all of the advantages above mentioned insofar as maintaining the tape in the proper position is concerned and controlling the dispensing thereof from the device.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 17, the front wall 75 and the arcuate extension 86 are provided with a coating having a low co-efficient of friction. For example, the right-hand face of the front wall 75 (as viewed in Figure 17) is provided with a coating 99 while the arcuate or bowed member 86 is provided with a coating 98. The surface provided by the elements 98 and 99 may be of material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (teflon) or a silicone resin having the low coefficient of friction. If desired, this material may be applied to a layer of fiberglass or similar fabric which is then adhered to the surface of the tape applicator above referred to.

In dispensing and applying tape by the mechanism of the present invention, the friction between the tape engaging surfaces on the front wall 75 and the pressure plate 86 is substantial, and the provision of surfaces on these walls having a low co-efficient of friction greatly facilitates the dispensing of tape. Surfaces of the above character may be applied to the corresponding surface of the devices shown in Figures 1 to 12, inclusive, and

also, if desired, to the surfaces 36 (Figure 4) and 53 (Figure 8). Indeed, the application of such surfaces may be utilized on any of the Wall portions where rubbing occurs if it is desired to further reduce the frictional resistance to the application of the tape in the manner above described.

In addition to the advantages hereinabove described with reference to the various forms of the invention illustrated, the present invention provides a device in which the extremity of the tape which has been severed from the portion previously applied to the surface'is maintained in a position such that it will not contact the surface upon which the applicator rests. By a rolling action of the applicator in applying the tape to a desired surface, an extended portion of the curved pressure plate applies a substantial length of tape to the surface so that the tape will be anchored thereto, thus permitting pulling of the tape from the roll as continued application of the tape to the surface is accomplished.

While this invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An applicator for tape comprising a unitary holder for a roll of tape having a hollow spool, said holder having spaced apart side walls, an arcuate bottom wall connecting and adjacent to one end of said side walls and forming a braking surface, a presser member connecting and adjacent to the other ends of said side Walls, said holder having an open top to admit a portion of said roll of tape into it and into contact with said braking surface and the back of said presser member with the remainder of said roll extending out of said holder, said presser plate having a convexly curved outer surface and being spaced lengthwise of said side walls from said bottom wall to provide therewith an opening through which tape is drawn from said roll over said convexly curved surface, and a cutting member at the opposite end of the presser plate from said opening.

2. The applicator set forth in claim 1 in which the side walls have opposed inwardly extending protuberances adjacent to the middle of their upper edges to engage loosely in said spool and retain the roll in said holder with capacity for movement toward and away from said braking surface.

3. The applicator set forth in claim 1 in which said side walls are less in height than the radius of the roll of tape received therebetween so that a major portion of the roll of tape projects from said holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,235,704 Gorbatenko et al Mar. 18, 1941 2,368,262 Oftedahl et a1. Jan. 30, 1945 2,400,435 Nelson et a1 May 14, 1946 2,400,881 Kahn May 28, 1946 2,527,588 Sorenson Oct. 31, 1950 2,586,346 King Feb. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 475,520 Germany Apr. 29, 1929 

